Ebro, FL - Though it’s long been suspected and reported, two panhandle doctors of veterinary medicine have confirmed that the 32 greyhounds found dead in an Ebro greyhound track kennel died of either dehydration or starvation or a combination of both. Final results are pending laboratory results, but the news should not be a surprise to anyone who has been following the case.

36-year-old Ronald J. Williams has been charged with 37 counts of felony animal cruelty, in what the Washington County sheriff says is one of the most disturbing cases to cruelty to animals the department has ever investigated. On October 29th, state officials swooped down on Ebro Greyhound Park after an adoption operator at the Ebro dog track reported the smell of decaying animals coming from the neighboring kennels on Friday. After arriving and assessing the status of the animals, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was called in to help investigate.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office has spent much of the week performing a concentrated investigation into both the details surrounding the death of 32 greyhounds at the Ebro Greyhound Park Kennel, as well as numerous additional allegations of reported abuse of greyhounds by Williams.

Thursday, November 4th, a necropsy had been completed, confirming suspicions that the dogs had starved to death.

One of the five surviving greyhounds is still being treated at Panhandle
Veterinary Services in Chipley, FL. The remaining four were relocated to local kennels where they are receiving specialized care. All five are expected to make a full recovery.

During the initial investigation, WCSO received information that Williams had additional animals in his care at both a kennel in Mobile, AL and at his home in Walton County. Officers were sent to both locations and found the animals to be in good condition. All animals under the care of Williams have been returned to their owners or relocated to new homes.

Williams is being held in the Washington County Jail held on $74,000 bond.

The investigation into the case continues.